Hamas Terrorist Involved in Shani Louk Abduction Killed in Gaza Airstrike
Tamer Muhammad Ibrahim al-Sabbagh, the final member of the cell responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Shani Louk on October 7, has been eliminated.
An Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza has killed Tamer Muhammad Ibrahim al-Sabbagh, identified as the last member of the Hamas cell responsible for the abduction and murder of Shani Louk during the October 7 attacks.
Al-Sabbagh was killed in Jabalia on Monday. He was part of the group seen abducting Louk, a 22-year-old German-Israeli, from the Nova music festival near Re'im. Footage of Louk, semi-naked and unconscious in the back of a pickup truck, circulated widely, becoming a symbol of Hamas's atrocities. Three other members of the cell were killed earlier in the conflict, and one was captured by Israeli forces.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), al-Sabbagh had engaged in advanced attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and worked to restore Hamas's capabilities, actions described as a systematic violation of the ceasefire. The IDF stated that the terrorist was eliminated to remove the threat he posed.
Shani Louk's remains were discovered by IDF soldiers in a tunnel beneath a house in northern Gaza in May 2024, alongside the bodies of three other hostages. Her father, Nissim Louk, confirmed her death after receiving personal effects and official documentation. The remains had been kept in a deep, cold tunnel.
Louk was laid to rest in Srigim in October 2024. Her mother, Ricarda Louk, described the return of her daughter's body as closing a circle, allowing her spirit and body to rest in peace. Her father had previously apologized for failing to protect her.
The other terrorists identified as involved in Louk's kidnapping were Attiya Daour (killed August 20, 2025), Basel Cheleh (killed December 6, 2023), Mustafa Shaheen (killed October 10, 2023), and Mustafa Ala Khatib (captured).
In a separate operation in September 2026, Israel eliminated Saher Nidal Latfi Sakr, another Hamas terrorist suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of hostages Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or from the same music festival. Sakr was killed in an airstrike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The IDF reported that Sakr supplied weapons to Hamas and was involved in attacks on Israeli civilians and troops.
Noa Argamani was rescued from Gaza on June 8, 2026, after 246 days in captivity. Avinatan Or was released after 738 days as part of a ceasefire agreement. The circumstances of their captivity included witnessing a fellow captive's execution, near-death experiences from airstrikes, and lack of medical attention.